The Portland daily press., 1887-11-17
the NATIONAL CAPITAL.
General Sheridan Calls Attention to
Our Unprotected Coasts.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.-LieutenaDt Gen
eral p. III. Sheridan has presented his annual
report to the Secretary of War. From the
report it appears that at the date of the last
consolidated returns the army consisted of
2.200 officers and 24,2S6 men, including In
dian scouts.
The General renews his previous recon-
mendations touching the increase of the
army by 5000 men and perfecting the organ
ization of the infantry arm by the addition
of two majors and two companies to each
regiment.
Relative to the revision Of tactics it is said !:
"The great advance in the material of war
has also occasioned vital changes in the man.
ner of handling men in action, and our
tactics therefore are no longer well adapted
to the present conditions. For these reasons
it is my intention to assemble at an early
day board of officers to consider the sub
ject and to prepare or recommend such revi-
sions of the tactics as Will place them more
completely in harmony with the advanced
methods of conducting war"
Attention is called to the needs of the
army in the matter of improved small arms,
and General Sheridan says: 'The Spring
field rifle still remains the weapon of our
service and it is undoubtedly very good
one. In my opinion, however, the magazine
gun must be the arm of the future. If it is
not possible to devise at an early day good
magazine gun embodying the advanced ideas
now accepted abroad, 1t would be better to
adopt the best of their weapons rather than
adhere longer to our present single loader,
effective even as its fire can sometime be
made"
On the subject of coast defences. the Lieu
tenant General says: "The condition of our
sea-coast defences has continued to deterio-
rate during the year, and the majority. OF
them, both as regards the material OF which
they are built. their location and present ar
mament, would prove of but little real SER
vice in time of foreign war. Strong fortifica-
tions and heavy guns require several years
and large expenditure OF money Tor their
construction, and while undoubtedly neces-
sary for thorough defence, any measures
are worthy of careful consideration that
promise to secure quickly and at moderate
cost weapons always valuable as auxiliary
means of defence, but which, in the absence
of a more complete system might yet be
utilized with good effect Pneumatic guns,
throwing large charges of high explosives are
comparatively inexpensive to construct and
operate. and moreover appear, from recent
experiments to produce within the limit OF
their range very conclusive results. be-
lieve the efferts in this direction should be
encouraged sit is not possible to predict what
cir final issue may be, but that still
further advance can be made seems very
probable and an increased range and greater
explosive effect can fairly be anticipated
The General concludes his report as fol-
lows:
81 am strongly in favor Of the General
Government extending all possible aid to the
National Guard of the different States. They
should be armed with the best weapons, am
ply provided with complete camp and garri-
son equpage, and instructed in the various
drills and exercises according TO the tactics
and systems followed in the Regular Army.
Opium smuggIers.
Assistant Secretary Maynard has inform
ed the collector of customs at Rochester, N.
Y, that the department is in receipt of re-
liable information to the effect that persons
still actively engaged in smuggling opium by
way of the Canadian Pacific railroad to
places on the Canadian frontier. whence, IL
successfully smugged it is shipped to San
Francisco and other Pacific ports. The col
lector is instructed to use his utmost vigilance
to prevent snch illegal inp0rtations.
The Next House.
The official list of members of the next
House of Representatives shows that it will
consist of 16S Democrats, 155 Republicans
and 4 Independents
The Consular Service.
Fifth Auditor Eickhoff, in his annual re-
pert to the Secretary of the Treasury, shows
that during the year accounts were exam
ined involving the disbursement of S922, ,S7S,-
9S2 in the diplomatic, consular and internal
revenue services. In the consular service
there was an excess of $31,7i7 of receipts
over expenditures, showing the service is not
only self-sustaining, but source ofreyenue.
The Auditor suggests that Congress be asked
to make annual permanent appropriations
to cover payments to diplomatic and consul
lar officers while awaiting instructions and
also while in transit Consular fees amount.
ed to $3.50, $50, and exceeded the amount OF
any previous year.
There were relieved during the year 959
destitute seamen, as against 1885 in 1886,
one-fourth less number of seamen,. yet the
cost to the government was nearly the same.
The average cost per seaman was S5.35 more
for 1887 that for 1886. The additional cost is
attributable to the increased allowance to
steamers for the transportation of seamen to
the United States, authorized by the act OF
June 10, 1886. The Auditor recommends